Tatsuya
Ueta, who became Japan coach after the squad failed to qualify for
the 2004 Olympics, has been working tirelessly for his players ever
since. He led the team to qualification for the 2008 Olympics and in
2009 they took their first FIVB medal in 32 years when they won
bronze at the World Grand Champions Cup. Ueta has tried to improve
his players’ morale and professionalism as top athletes, and has
worked on improving their fitness and fundamental skills with a
combination attack. As a result, Japan has improved remarkably in
every aspect in the last few years and they triumphed at the 2010
Asian Championship. They also qualified for the 2010 FIVB World
Championship in Italy, where they finished 13th. Despite
this disappointment, they collected gold at the Asian Games in China
later on in the year and have qualified for the World League for the
first time since 2009.

Tatsuya
Ueta became Japan coach in 2004, immediately after the squad failed
to qualify for the Athens Olympics. He joined Nippon Steel Blazers in
1987 and played for Japan from 1989 to 1993, before becoming a coach
in 1995. He worked with the Japan Volleyball Association as coach of
the junior national team in 2001. His best result so far has been a
bronze medal at the 2009 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup. Most
recently, he saw his side finish 13th at the FIVB World Championship
in Italy.